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Post by KStrick on Feb 18, 2009 22:42:52 GMT -5
I'd imagine a clock tower. Twice they've been the "Cleveland Indians" of the offseason (almost, but not quite)
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Post by Seth Drakin of Monster Crap on Feb 18, 2009 22:47:14 GMT -5
I am happy to see Ken Griffey Jr going back to him. This is a good move for both Ken Griffey Jr. himself and the Mariners team. Ken will be able to finish his career with the team who made him famous and the Mariners will probably sell alot of tickets while knowing that Ken will play his ass off like he always does (there is a reason he has so many injuries besides his age).
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H-Fist
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Post by H-Fist on Feb 18, 2009 22:51:06 GMT -5
I'm surprised that "Baseball's Seasons" on MLB Network hasn't done a 1998 episode yet. There's so much stuff that happened that year, they'd probably have to stretch it to 90 minutes. I think that they are going to try to white out most of 1998. I really don't think they want to talk about Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire right now, and that Yankees/Padres series was so damn forgettable. That basically leaves them with Kerry Wood's 20K game (one of the finest games ever pitched, not exaggeration) and Griffey's big season (which of course makes Sammy and Mac more conspicuous by their absence). Word from the Chicago sports media is that the Cubs are hoping to look as follows on opening day: SS - Theriot 2B - Fontenot 3B - Ramirez RF - Bradley LF - Soriano 1B - Lee C - Soto CF - Fukudome (platoon) bench: C - Bako 1B/OF - Hoffpauir IF/OF - Miles OF - Johnson OF - Gathright SP: 1. Zambrano 2. Dempster 3. Lilly 4a. Harden 5. Marshall 4b. Samardzija, who apparently has a solid 3-finger change in his back pocket. Pen: Marmol (CL) Gregg Heilman Vizcaino Cotts Gaudin As far as I can tell, their only real weaknesses are concerns about outfield offensive consistency and the lack of a second southpaw in the bullpen. They do have plenty of options for RF and CF, so they can try different things. Mike Stanton is a non-roster invitee to spring training, so he might earn a spot otherwise reserved for Vizcaino, Gaudin, or Heilman. Jose Ascanio, Kevin Hart and Angel Guzman are also options for middle relief. Luis Rivas, Koyie Hill, Mark Johnson and So Taguchi are also in camp fighting for spots on the bottom of the roster. ChiSox closer Bobby Jenks claims that he was playing around with a knuckler in the offseason, but doubts that Ozzie or Don Cooper will let him use it in a game.
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Post by Chilly McFreeze on Feb 18, 2009 22:54:09 GMT -5
I'd imagine a clock tower. Twice they've been the "Cleveland Indians" of the offseason (almost, but not quite) I would count Peavy and Burnett as almosts, too. Been a frustrating offseason, to say the least.
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Post by Maidpool w/ Cleaning Action on Feb 18, 2009 23:04:15 GMT -5
If it wasn't for Kiwi and Lowe I'd still call us the Atlanta Almosts like I did earlier this off season.
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Post by i.Sarita.com on Feb 18, 2009 23:05:35 GMT -5
I'm surprised that "Baseball's Seasons" on MLB Network hasn't done a 1998 episode yet. There's so much stuff that happened that year, they'd probably have to stretch it to 90 minutes. I think that they are going to try to white out most of 1998. I really don't think they want to talk about Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire right now, and that Yankees/Padres series was so damn forgettable. That basically leaves them with Kerry Wood's 20K game (one of the finest games ever pitched, not exaggeration) and Griffey's big season (which of course makes Sammy and Mac more conspicuous by their absence). Word from the Chicago sports media is that the Cubs are hoping to look as follows on opening day: SS - Theriot 2B - Fontenot 3B - Ramirez RF - Bradley LF - Soriano 1B - Lee C - Soto CF - Fukudome (platoon) bench: C - Bako 1B/OF - Hoffpauir IF/OF - Miles OF - Johnson OF - Gathright SP: 1. Zambrano 2. Dempster 3. Lilly 4a. Harden 5. Marshall 4b. Samardzija, who apparently has a solid 3-finger change in his back pocket. Pen: Marmol (CL) Gregg Heilman Vizcaino Cotts Gaudin As far as I can tell, their only real weaknesses are concerns about outfield offensive consistency and the lack of a second southpaw in the bullpen. They do have plenty of options for RF and CF, so they can try different things. Mike Stanton is a non-roster invitee to spring training, so he might earn a spot otherwise reserved for Vizcaino, Gaudin, or Heilman. Jose Ascanio, Kevin Hart and Angel Guzman are also options for middle relief. Luis Rivas, Koyie Hill, Mark Johnson and So Taguchi are also in camp fighting for spots on the bottom of the roster. ChiSox closer Bobby Jenks claims that he was playing around with a knuckler in the offseason, but doubts that Ozzie or Don Cooper will let him use it in a game. I love Fontenot as a bench guy, but as the starting second baseman? That's a little scary.
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domrep
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Post by domrep on Feb 18, 2009 23:05:41 GMT -5
Brian Roberts and the Orioles agree to a 4 yr/$40 million deal pending a physical. The Orioles now have the core of their lineup locked up for at least the next 5 years.
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Milkman Norm
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Post by Milkman Norm on Feb 18, 2009 23:55:21 GMT -5
Matt Wise was never the same after he injured a Red pitching inside in 2007. His confedence was just shot and he lost his command. It was a shame watching him go from a good set up guy to someone who was terrified to throw inside out of fear of injuring someone else.
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Milkman Norm
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Post by Milkman Norm on Feb 18, 2009 23:58:09 GMT -5
I'd think that Miles/Fontenot would be more of a platoon deal early on or that the winner would be decided in Spring Training but if Mike's the guy so be it. Besides a #17 should be starting in the infield
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The Line
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Post by The Line on Feb 19, 2009 1:56:56 GMT -5
I am so pleased bout Jr coming back
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Post by i.Sarita.com on Feb 19, 2009 2:33:12 GMT -5
I'd think that Miles/Fontenot would be more of a platoon deal early on or that the winner would be decided in Spring Training but if Mike's the guy so be it. Besides a #17 should be starting in the infield Well if Fontenot ends up hitting like Grace, then I'm all for that #17 thing. ;D
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H-Fist
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Post by H-Fist on Feb 19, 2009 2:56:06 GMT -5
I'd think that Miles/Fontenot would be more of a platoon deal early on or that the winner would be decided in Spring Training but if Mike's the guy so be it. Besides a #17 should be starting in the infield Well if Fontenot ends up hitting like Grace, then I'm all for that #17 thing. ;D Fontenot can hit. Every time the Cubs gave him playing time, he smacked the ball. And he has deceptive power for a little guy. Whether that pop is going to be generally warning track power or real power at the big league level, well let's watch him get 450 at bats in a season before we make that call. Aaron Miles was a great pickup, but he's more Tony Phillips than Mark DeRosa. Sure, he might get 400 at bats, but they'll be evenly spread between 3B, 2B, SS, and all three outfield positions.
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Post by i.Sarita.com on Feb 19, 2009 3:00:02 GMT -5
Well if Fontenot ends up hitting like Grace, then I'm all for that #17 thing. ;D Fontenot can hit. Every time the Cubs gave him playing time, he smacked the ball. And he has deceptive power for a little guy. Whether that pop is going to be generally warning track power or real power at the big league level, well let's watch him get 450 at bats in a season before we make that call. Aaron Miles was a great pickup, but he's more Tony Phillips than Mark DeRosa. Sure, he might get 400 at bats, but they'll be evenly spread between 3B, 2B, SS, and all three outfield positions. I do like the additions of Miles and Gathright. DeRosa may have been a little better than Miles, but Gathright is what Pie was ment to be.
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H-Fist
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Post by H-Fist on Feb 19, 2009 3:37:23 GMT -5
Fontenot can hit. Every time the Cubs gave him playing time, he smacked the ball. And he has deceptive power for a little guy. Whether that pop is going to be generally warning track power or real power at the big league level, well let's watch him get 450 at bats in a season before we make that call. Aaron Miles was a great pickup, but he's more Tony Phillips than Mark DeRosa. Sure, he might get 400 at bats, but they'll be evenly spread between 3B, 2B, SS, and all three outfield positions. I do like the additions of Miles and Gathright. DeRosa may have been a little better than Miles, but Gathright is what Pie was ment to be. DeRosa was a utility guy who had by far a career year last year at age 33. Miles is 2 years younger as well as being faster and cheaper. I agree about Gathright and think he has an outside chance of winning at least half of the center field duties out of camp. But I'll also say right here, right now that I am not nearly as down on Kosuke Fukudome as most everyone else is. Will he be worth the money he is being paid? No, certainly not. But .280 / 12 / 65 in 80-90 starts is not out of the question. He was so good, and then so atrocious, that I feel no one saw the true Kosuke in 2008. And really, anything positive he does is a bonus to a team that acts like it expects nothing from him.
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Sajoa Moe
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Post by Sajoa Moe on Feb 19, 2009 12:05:03 GMT -5
I'm surprised that "Baseball's Seasons" on MLB Network hasn't done a 1998 episode yet. There's so much stuff that happened that year, they'd probably have to stretch it to 90 minutes. I think that they are going to try to white out most of 1998. I really don't think they want to talk about Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire right now, and that Yankees/Padres series was so damn forgettable. That basically leaves them with Kerry Wood's 20K game (one of the finest games ever pitched, not exaggeration) and Griffey's big season (which of course makes Sammy and Mac more conspicuous by their absence). Obviously they would want to ignore it now, but it was still one of the biggest storylines of the decade. EVERYBODY knew who Sosa and McGwire were then. And besides the things you mentioned, they could also talk about David Wells' perfect game, the Yankees winning 114 games, and Cal Ripken ending The Streak.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2009 12:07:03 GMT -5
A-Rod's cousin identified sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3917763How long until sports reporters say something like: "How do we know this guy is really the cousin?", "Why didn't this guy confess from the start?", etc.?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2009 12:18:40 GMT -5
ChiSox closer Bobby Jenks claims that he was playing around with a knuckler in the offseason, but doubts that Ozzie or Don Cooper will let him use it in a game. Every year it's the same story: the first (and mainly, only) question anybody asks Bobby is "Why don't you throw the fastball more?" I like that Bobby is looking to expand past the high heater and fluctuating curve, but a big guy like that shouldn't be throwing a knuckler. Knowing Coop or Ozwaldo, they would probably let him throw it...if they ever let him in a game with a minimum 5 run lead.
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Post by ani on Feb 19, 2009 12:49:46 GMT -5
A-Rod's cousin identified sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3917763How long until sports reporters say something like: "How do we know this guy is really the cousin?", "Why didn't this guy confess from the start?", etc.? Wasn't there a rumor going around that the "cousin" was Jose Canseco? To highroad: You seriously are comparing Gathright to Pie? Gathright is a bench player who can run and that's it. Pie will hit.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2009 13:43:58 GMT -5
What you neglected to mention is that Lou Pinella is not a big fan of Ryan Theriot, and was trying to trade him.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2009 13:58:05 GMT -5
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